Difference between an embassy and a consulate

An embassy vs a consulate:

Embassies and consulates are the official government representations of one nation in another country. They are necessary tools in peace keeping and maintaining a sense of unity in the world through diplomatic mediation and forming political, economic and social bonds among nations. Whereas a country can have only one embassy in a host country, it can have numerous consulates in different regions depending on the requirements.

Embassies are also known as permanent diplomatic mission and is a larger representation than a consulate. They are usually located in a country’s capital and the person in charge of this mission is called the “ambassador”. Usually, high ranking, diplomatic representatives of a country are appointed as ambassadors and they represent the embassy and his country in a foreign land. They are also the spokespersons for their governments and they have the authority to prepare treaties and official visits of their government officials in their host country.

Consulates which are also known as junior embassies are located at the main cities of a country but not in the capital. It is similar to an embassy but as defined by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, they are more focused in dealing in individual persons and business. A consulate general of the consulate is usually a representative of the main embassy and other officials in the consulate are referred to as the consuls.

Consulates are responsible for their citizens who have taken residence or are travelling in their host country. They must inform the citizens of security issues of the host country and also, they are responsible for them in cases of detention, arrest or other complications.

Embassies are responsible for the political and diplomatic relations with their host countries and they are also responsible for the welfare of their citizens who are living in that particular land. Consulates have a comparatively smaller role in maintaining commercial links and fostering trade with their host country .

Consulates are also responsible for the handling of visas of their own citizens travelling in their host country. The number of consulates depends on the necessity and the requirement of the land. They stand for the public representation of their own land whereas the embassy represents their government in the host land. Embassies act as the mediator between the host government and their own, reporting back all the important social, military and political events that take place in their host countries whereas consulates are only responsible for reporting back significant deaths, marriages or births.

Summary

Embassies have a larger role than a consulate.

An ambassador is the person in charge of the diplomatic mission in the embassy. The person in charge of the consulate is called the consulate general.

Embassies represent their government in the host country. Consulates only represent the public representation of their own land.